OTTAWA – Volleyball Canada announced today that the 2011 VI Pan-American Men’s Volleyball Cup has been rescheduled for June 13-18 at the Robert-Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Que., in order to be aligned with several other events which will make the week a true celebration of the sport.

The Canadian squad is excited about hosting this major international tournament.

The tournament which traditionally attracts several world superpowers including Brazil, the reigning world champions, Cuba and the United States was originally set for June 7-12 at the same venue. Canada, 19th at the worlds last September, placed fifth at last year's Pan Am Cup.

The new dates now coincide with the Volleyball Canada’s Annual General Assembly, also set for Gatineau, as well as a potential CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) and CCAA (Canadian College Athletic Association) Athlete Development Summit.

“We really want that week to be a volleyball celebration so we can get the community involved to its full potential.’’ said Ariane Thibault, marketing and events coordinator for Volleyball Canada.

‘’This will be the first time in several years that the Ottawa-Gatineau region will host a men’s senior international volleyball tournament so we are pretty excited about it,’’ said Vincent Pichette, the national team assistant coach. Head coach Glenn Hoag is currently overseas coaching in Europe.

‘’The Pan Am Cup is traditionally the first big tournament of the season with our full national team and this year it is particularly important because we have a big year ahead with Olympic qualification starting later this fall.’’

The tournament is the first step in the 2012 FIVB World League qualifying process – last year Puerto Rico advanced from the Pan Am Cup tournament to eventually qualify to this year’s World League competition.

The Pan Am Cup will also be a preview of the men’s volleyball tournament at the Pan American Games set for Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2011. The Pan Am Games are not an Olympic qualifying event as is the case in some other team sports. Canada’s primary Olympic qualifying event is the men’s NORCECA Zone qualification tournament in January 2012.

Most of Canada’s national team players are currently playing professionally overseas and will start rejoining the current training group at the national team centre in Gatineau this spring.

The final list of the participating teams for the Pan Am Cup will be finalized over the next several weeks. Ticket details will also follow in the upcoming weeks.